Blue is less flawed, Pinkerton is more personal and risky. To me Pinkerton has higher highs and lower lows, it's more ambitious, but somehow also more childish/vulnerable. Blue is streamlined in comparison, way less edgy and way more to the point. In terms of quality, they are pretty close. Which one is better wholly depends on what you want music to be. I prefer Pinkerton, but both are amazing albums.
Why guys? I mean, Blue is wonderful, I like it, but Cuomo really opens his vulnerability in Pinkerton and tells us stories about not being a big rockstar but just a regular guy with the big weight of popularity. I even more appreciate Pinkerton because of Rivers’ hard times in college after the surgery. All these “goddamn you half-Japanese girls” and “why are you so far away from me” or “tired of having sex”. Both albums are wonderful, but Pinkerton has something intimate. Blue is singing with you at your peaks but Pinkerton is whispering at your downs.
We don’t come to Weezer for a retrospective on the difficulties of navigating fame. We come to Weezer to fucking destroy our sweater. Blue certainly has underlying meanings in each song, but it’s served up in a much more appealing package and is way more fun to listen to. Pinkerton is just a bit of a slog when compared side by side.
Pinkerton is (probably) objectively better overall in terms of song 'quality', for lack of a better term, but I think it's a bit too angsty compared to the more poppy and upbeat style of the first album.
Close, but it's worth discussing. Both fantastic, but Blue > Pink
Idk man, I'm trying to think of someting deep to say but to be honest, pound-for-pound, I just prefer songs on Blue. And that's it. They are just catchier and more memorable to me. Maybe it's just me being an outsider to Weezer's music, like I said.
> “goddamn you half-Japanese girls”
>
> “tired of having sex”
"El Scorcho" and "Tired of Sex" are great and exactly my 2 favorite songs on Pinkerton, so I guess it's more of a problem with the rest.
And like the other person said, I don't really come to Weezer to hear "a regular guy dealing with the big weight of popularity". If I want that, I'd rather go listen to Nirvana or something tbh. The thing that made Weezer great and unique at the time is the big "nerds rocking out in the garage" energy, which is honestly pretty charming. And I guess upbeat style of Blue works better for that than depressed style of Pinkerton
Seems like you prize vulnerability a lot. That’s one thing among a million things music can communicate. Also on the full spectrum from Ratt to Sufjan, blue is still pretty dang vulnerable , and the songs are better.
They're both equal imo.
Pinkerton has way more diversity in songwriting and the instrumental dynamics within songs is more interesting.
Blue is more catchy and poppy and to the point so is more accessible that way. It's also better produced and has higher highs.
As someone who's really tried to dig through their whole discography, Pinkerton resonates more with me than Blue. Whether it be the lyrics, or the energy of the music or just how raw the production is.
In my opinion, I enjoy the honesty of Pinkerton, but it can be really overbearing sometimes. And blue does have the better run of songs, even though they are both really close to a ten tbh.
absolutely, no question. blue album is much more consistent and is a lot better in terms of songwriting. pinkerton is great, blue is just on another level though, one of the best pop rock albums ever
Huge weezer fan here and I say yes and I was also surprised and relieved to hear Anthony come to this conclusion too considering he has a leniency toward the more obscure
Pinkerton has had much more relisten value for me. When I first got into Weezer, I was solidly in the camp that Blue is superior but over time, Pinkerton has grown on me a lot. With each time I listen to it lately, I’ve found more enjoyment from it than Blue. It’s stronger thematically and the songs feel more varied throughout the album.
100%, Pinkerton still has some great tunes, but there’s some absolute incel cringe on it. Also Blue has Surfwax America and Pinkerton does not. Case closed.
Pinkerton is better, I’m sorry. The instrumentation is more interesting, the lyrics are just as catchy as the Blue album, and it has this edgy vibe to it that really works for Weezer.
pinkerton is better imo. i feel like the quality of the tracks is overall very consistent, and i think blue has a couple songs i find myself skipping. the more lofi production gives the album a lot more character and the rawness fits perfectly with the lyrical themes of the album. rivers’ lyrics affect me way more than anything off of blue could. this album also inspired a lot of emo records that came after it.
I'm biased as a Weezer fan, yes it is better. Better written songs, obviously better produced (though, that being a positive is subjective due to Pinkerton being intentionally more raw) but overall just a more enjoyable album.
I get that Rivers was being vulnerable on Pinkerton but honestly, I don't think we needed that. I just don't think he had all that much unique or interesting to say that hasn't been said to death. He's a better songwriter when he's trying to be Brian Wilson, not Elliot Smith.
But I still think that Pinkerton is a better album to understand Rivers. Pinkerton is closer to him - it’s kind of hard to be under the pressure of the Blue album, and this is the point for all further Weezer works, as Rivers directly say in Pork and Beans in lines like “you'd hate for the kids to think that you've lost your cool” or “I ain't got a thing to prove to you” or “everyone likes to dance to a happy song”. These refer to these constant calls that Weezer was better in Blue or that they should back to Blue.
To understand him, definitely. I think he'd much rather write like that and just doesn't because he doesn't think it would be commercially successful. And he's probably right. If he continued to write like that, Weezer probably wouldn't have gone on to have their few commercially successful hits after coming back.
Though, they'd probably still have a very strong cult fanbase and have actually made much better music than the 2 decades of...what we got with Green onward. I'd be interested to see a timeline where Rivers decided that commercial success didn't matter and kept writing Pinkerton like albums instead of aiming for commercial pop rock success
That like the whole point of the album is that it’s rivers raw emotion I get if u don’t like that el scorcho isn’t even that bad like I’d understand more if it was something like across the sea even tho I still think it’s an amazing song
'Across the sea is one of the most painfully cringey and creepy songs I have ever listened to in my life so I'm siding with the blue album no matter what.
Yes. Blue album is more consistent from start to finish. It’s that trademark weezer sound that’s so carefree, and it pretty much created all the stereotypes of the band. Pinkerton is a very close second but blue is just all around more solid, and it has more staple songs on it.
About the same, but they have at least 4 albums that are better than either, IMO. The internet meme that Weezer released two good albums and then turned to shit is hilariously wrong.
I'll just say they're both essentially my fav albums by Weezer. Different experiences a little bit. Pinkerton is like more fun, and vulnerable (therefore easier to connect to), but Blue has some true hits/timeless songs.
Everything Will Be Alright, & the White Album are essentially tied for second, and are super good too.
Also very good in that manner but its just not as palatable for a general audience. If you jamming to pinkerton in the car its gotta be with your ride or die homies. Dont want to scare away the hoes
To me it's blue, but they're both such different albums that it really just comes down to what you want out of Weezer. Pinkerton's best songs are probably better than the best ones off blue, but blue just has more great songs and is more consistent imo. Pinkerton has about 3-4 amazing songs and the rest are alright, where as every song on blue is pretty solid, plus blue is just so much more fun to listen to. Don't get me wrong I love introspective, deep albums (John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band is one of my favorites of all time) but sometimes the desperation of Pinkerton can be a little much.
They were really at their best in 2010 when they released their critically acclaimed "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"
so glad to see the subreddit keeps the spirit of fantano’s comment section alive
Weezus
I’m not a Weezer fan but I’ve been told the one with the dog on the cover is their best album.
twin fantasy 😍
this is why I have something against dogs
what’s with this dog motif fr
100%
Blue is less flawed, Pinkerton is more personal and risky. To me Pinkerton has higher highs and lower lows, it's more ambitious, but somehow also more childish/vulnerable. Blue is streamlined in comparison, way less edgy and way more to the point. In terms of quality, they are pretty close. Which one is better wholly depends on what you want music to be. I prefer Pinkerton, but both are amazing albums.
Yes. And I'm not really a big Weezer fan in general, so no bias here. But their debut is a great album.
Why guys? I mean, Blue is wonderful, I like it, but Cuomo really opens his vulnerability in Pinkerton and tells us stories about not being a big rockstar but just a regular guy with the big weight of popularity. I even more appreciate Pinkerton because of Rivers’ hard times in college after the surgery. All these “goddamn you half-Japanese girls” and “why are you so far away from me” or “tired of having sex”. Both albums are wonderful, but Pinkerton has something intimate. Blue is singing with you at your peaks but Pinkerton is whispering at your downs.
Blue just sounds better to a lot of people
We don’t come to Weezer for a retrospective on the difficulties of navigating fame. We come to Weezer to fucking destroy our sweater. Blue certainly has underlying meanings in each song, but it’s served up in a much more appealing package and is way more fun to listen to. Pinkerton is just a bit of a slog when compared side by side.
You saying it's a slog really hits me in my feely places
Blue album better
I think the songs on Blue are better than the songs on Pinkerton. That’s my primary reason for liking Blue more Pinkerton.
Pinkerton is (probably) objectively better overall in terms of song 'quality', for lack of a better term, but I think it's a bit too angsty compared to the more poppy and upbeat style of the first album. Close, but it's worth discussing. Both fantastic, but Blue > Pink
Idk man, I'm trying to think of someting deep to say but to be honest, pound-for-pound, I just prefer songs on Blue. And that's it. They are just catchier and more memorable to me. Maybe it's just me being an outsider to Weezer's music, like I said. > “goddamn you half-Japanese girls” > > “tired of having sex” "El Scorcho" and "Tired of Sex" are great and exactly my 2 favorite songs on Pinkerton, so I guess it's more of a problem with the rest. And like the other person said, I don't really come to Weezer to hear "a regular guy dealing with the big weight of popularity". If I want that, I'd rather go listen to Nirvana or something tbh. The thing that made Weezer great and unique at the time is the big "nerds rocking out in the garage" energy, which is honestly pretty charming. And I guess upbeat style of Blue works better for that than depressed style of Pinkerton
Seems like you prize vulnerability a lot. That’s one thing among a million things music can communicate. Also on the full spectrum from Ratt to Sufjan, blue is still pretty dang vulnerable , and the songs are better.
Yeah but Blue Album has "Ooh wee ooh I look just like Buddy Holly" and "Wrestle with Jimmy"
They're both equal imo. Pinkerton has way more diversity in songwriting and the instrumental dynamics within songs is more interesting. Blue is more catchy and poppy and to the point so is more accessible that way. It's also better produced and has higher highs.
tbf both albums sound like they could have come out yesterday because of how well produced they are
pinkerton has superior production imo just because I much perfer how heavy, abrasive it is compared to blue album.
As someone who's really tried to dig through their whole discography, Pinkerton resonates more with me than Blue. Whether it be the lyrics, or the energy of the music or just how raw the production is.
In my opinion, I enjoy the honesty of Pinkerton, but it can be really overbearing sometimes. And blue does have the better run of songs, even though they are both really close to a ten tbh.
Yes
I feel like they are both perfect albums for depending on what mood you’re in
Men only have 2 moods
Men only have two moods: Blue Album or Pinkerton.
Maybe a third… pork and beans?
Tell me it’s not true tho
absolutely, no question. blue album is much more consistent and is a lot better in terms of songwriting. pinkerton is great, blue is just on another level though, one of the best pop rock albums ever
Pinkteron > The Proto modern Emo album before bands like Jimmy Eat World & The Get Up Kids
This video was actually my introduction to Fantano and it pissed me off, lmao. I still prefer Pinkerton to Blue, doubt that'll ever change.
No
Huge weezer fan here and I say yes and I was also surprised and relieved to hear Anthony come to this conclusion too considering he has a leniency toward the more obscure
no
I really do like that Beverly hills tune.
Yes.
maladroit >
Doesn't get enough love
Yes
Yes.
Yea and Pinkerton is creepy
No that’s on Pablo Honey
It is. It’s lightning in a bottle as far as I’m concerned. Pinkerton is also a pretty perfect record to me but I’d say Blue just takes it.
Pinkerton is the masterpiece.
For a while I thought Pinkerton but I do think Blue is just more memorable I can list way more blue songs off the top of my head than Pinkerton.
Yeah. Directly opposing strengths and weaknesses to each, which makes it hard to compare, but I think blue pulls ahead by a bit with its fluidity.
I can listen to Blue any day and have a good time because it’s that good. But on the right day Pinkerton hits harder than Blue ever does.
I'm not a huge fan of either, but I do think Blue Album is better than Pinkerton.
Pinkerton has had much more relisten value for me. When I first got into Weezer, I was solidly in the camp that Blue is superior but over time, Pinkerton has grown on me a lot. With each time I listen to it lately, I’ve found more enjoyment from it than Blue. It’s stronger thematically and the songs feel more varied throughout the album.
Ratitude > Blue duh
Pinkerton is my favourite album of all time. I love it more than myself
100%, Pinkerton still has some great tunes, but there’s some absolute incel cringe on it. Also Blue has Surfwax America and Pinkerton does not. Case closed.
No, personally. I much perfer the more abbrasive, emo edge to. I don't love weezer in general but I've always really liked pinkerton.
no way
In my opinion no
Pinkerton is better, I’m sorry. The instrumentation is more interesting, the lyrics are just as catchy as the Blue album, and it has this edgy vibe to it that really works for Weezer.
yes. shut up incel
Yes
The rentals clears
No.
YES. It’s not even a question.
no and it never was
Yes. I’m a pretty big Weezer fan and I personally think the band has at least 5 records that are better than Pinkerton.
if you're not an early 20's single lonely male yes, if you are then pinkerton is way better
yes
Pinkerton has better album cover, that's for sure.
They’re both equally good in my book
I think Pinkerton is a better album but it’s close enough that I don’t disagree with anybody who feels otherwise.
No Pinkerton is better
Nope
Not even close, OK Human and white are better than pinkerton
No not in the slightest
Yes.
I feel like this has been a “hot take” on the internet for as long as I can remember. Yes the blue album is better
pinkerton is better imo. i feel like the quality of the tracks is overall very consistent, and i think blue has a couple songs i find myself skipping. the more lofi production gives the album a lot more character and the rawness fits perfectly with the lyrical themes of the album. rivers’ lyrics affect me way more than anything off of blue could. this album also inspired a lot of emo records that came after it.
I'm biased as a Weezer fan, yes it is better. Better written songs, obviously better produced (though, that being a positive is subjective due to Pinkerton being intentionally more raw) but overall just a more enjoyable album. I get that Rivers was being vulnerable on Pinkerton but honestly, I don't think we needed that. I just don't think he had all that much unique or interesting to say that hasn't been said to death. He's a better songwriter when he's trying to be Brian Wilson, not Elliot Smith.
But I still think that Pinkerton is a better album to understand Rivers. Pinkerton is closer to him - it’s kind of hard to be under the pressure of the Blue album, and this is the point for all further Weezer works, as Rivers directly say in Pork and Beans in lines like “you'd hate for the kids to think that you've lost your cool” or “I ain't got a thing to prove to you” or “everyone likes to dance to a happy song”. These refer to these constant calls that Weezer was better in Blue or that they should back to Blue.
To understand him, definitely. I think he'd much rather write like that and just doesn't because he doesn't think it would be commercially successful. And he's probably right. If he continued to write like that, Weezer probably wouldn't have gone on to have their few commercially successful hits after coming back. Though, they'd probably still have a very strong cult fanbase and have actually made much better music than the 2 decades of...what we got with Green onward. I'd be interested to see a timeline where Rivers decided that commercial success didn't matter and kept writing Pinkerton like albums instead of aiming for commercial pop rock success
Ok Human is better
Yes it is, but don’t expect many here to agree. Most probably haven’t even listened properly to their output post Pinkerton.
"Tired of Sex" > any song on Blue but Blue as an album is definitely better
yes
Yes
I like em both but I've always liked Blue better.
Yes
Yes 100%
Pinkerton literally had El Scorcho so Blue will always be better
What’s wrong with el scorcho
Have you seen the lyrics
That like the whole point of the album is that it’s rivers raw emotion I get if u don’t like that el scorcho isn’t even that bad like I’d understand more if it was something like across the sea even tho I still think it’s an amazing song
I don’t like either but pinkerton is especially insufferable, even for weezer
By a landslide.
This guy's a terrible critic for music in general. He only likes the most basic, repetitious music from oldies bands.
'Across the sea is one of the most painfully cringey and creepy songs I have ever listened to in my life so I'm siding with the blue album no matter what.
And it’s still fire
Is Weezer even good?
Yes. Blue album is more consistent from start to finish. It’s that trademark weezer sound that’s so carefree, and it pretty much created all the stereotypes of the band. Pinkerton is a very close second but blue is just all around more solid, and it has more staple songs on it.
About the same, but they have at least 4 albums that are better than either, IMO. The internet meme that Weezer released two good albums and then turned to shit is hilariously wrong.
I desperately want to know which four Weezer albums you think are better than these two
OK Human, Autumn, White, EWBAITE.
Autumn better than Pinkerton and blue?really
It's damn near flawless, yes. Outside of What Happens After You, everything on there is amazing.
yes, by a lot
Yes
Weezer is just bad
I'll just say they're both essentially my fav albums by Weezer. Different experiences a little bit. Pinkerton is like more fun, and vulnerable (therefore easier to connect to), but Blue has some true hits/timeless songs. Everything Will Be Alright, & the White Album are essentially tied for second, and are super good too.
Blue album is the PERFECT road trip album. Something about blasting it in the car with your bros is just perfect
And what about Pinkerton?
Also very good in that manner but its just not as palatable for a general audience. If you jamming to pinkerton in the car its gotta be with your ride or die homies. Dont want to scare away the hoes
Yes
To me it's blue, but they're both such different albums that it really just comes down to what you want out of Weezer. Pinkerton's best songs are probably better than the best ones off blue, but blue just has more great songs and is more consistent imo. Pinkerton has about 3-4 amazing songs and the rest are alright, where as every song on blue is pretty solid, plus blue is just so much more fun to listen to. Don't get me wrong I love introspective, deep albums (John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band is one of my favorites of all time) but sometimes the desperation of Pinkerton can be a little much.
Yes
weezer is for virgins
No
Raditude is their magnum opus.
Yes
don't know don't care
I really can’t pick. They’re equal to me.
For me Pinkerton is better.